Window-cleaning device.



W. R. KUEHNEL.

WINDOW CLEANING DEVlCE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24. 1911.

Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

i g E PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM B. KUEHNEL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WINDOW-CLEANING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 4, 1919.

Application filed November 24, 1817. Serial No. 208,708.

v To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. KU'EHNEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Window-Cleaning Devices, of-which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a window cleaning device designed particularly for use on street and railway cars, locomotives, boats, automobiles, etc., for removing from the outer surface of the window pane frost or other moisture deposits, dust or any other substance tending to obscure a clear view through the glass.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved window cleaning device of the kind mounted upon the outside of the window for movement across the glass pane or panel, and which embodies improved means or operating the same fromthe interior of the vehicle without the necessity of opening the window.

A further object of the invention is to provide a window cleaning device of the character described which is simple of construction, reliable and eflicient in operation, and which embodies means for permitting the window sash to be readily opened and closed Without interference from the operating mechanism of the cleaner.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference bein had to the accompanying drawing, in w ich:

Figure 1 is a view in elet'ation looking toward the exterior of a window, showing my improved cleaner mounted in operative position and showin the cleaner at one'of its extremelimit's o movement.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation looking toward the interior of the Window, the cleaner appearing in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 33-of Fig. 1.

Fi 4 is a vertical section on the line of F1 1.

Re errin to the drawing, l designates a window sas comprising a rame of suitable form inclosin a glass pane or anel 2. This sash mayiae slidably mounted or opening and closing movements in a frame 3 of any ordinar construction. It is to be understood t at the sash and frame may vary in construction accprdin to its use upon a street or railwaytcar, locomotive cab, or any other vehicle, to suit different requirements of service.

The cleaner 4 com rises an elongated head 5, extendin vertica 1y upon the outer side of the pane or glass pane 2 and provided upon its inner face with a groove in which is seated and secured-a strip of cleaning material 6, such as felt, rubber, or an other suitable material. The device thus orms a wiper adapted to be reciprocatedor oscillated transversely across the pane 2 from side to side thereof, to remove therefrom any deposits thereon tending to obscure clear vision through the ane,

The head 5 is pivota l y.:mounted upon a pivot member 7 projectin at right an Ice from the upper free end 0 an arm 8. 6 arm 8 extends vertically and is fixed at its lower end to the outer end of a rockshaft 9, whereby on reverse rocking movements of the shaft from right to left, and vice versa the cleaner will be reciprocatgd or oscillated across the pane to remove therefrom any-deposits thereon. The cleaner is adapted by gravity to assume a direct vertical position when the arm 8 is in a. direct vertical position parallel with a line passin through the center of the panel 2, and is a apted to sub stantially maintain this position as it is at cabinet,

moved across the pane, varied to some extent by the resistance of thepane to its movements by its frictional contact therewith. As the arm 8 swings to the ri ht or left from a central position 1t necessarily takes an inclined positionybut the cleaner through its pivotal mounting swings thereon to normall maintain a vertical position. To limit on control this swinging movement, a. cord or other flexible connection 10' is provided between the lower end of the cleaner and the arm 8, which connection serves to prevent 'the cleaner from swingin laterally beyond a limited extentin either (firection, due to the varying resistanceto its movement which may occur at different points along the surface of the pane.

The shaft 9 extends through and is 30111 naled in the bottom rail of the sash 1 and its inner end projects beyond the ipner faoe'of the sash and s formed with an angular socket 11 to receive an an n u an actuating h .N'h ereby the shaft me be rocked or oscillatedto actuate the Leia rprojection12 e orcrank 13,

6r. It will an cleaner be up arent that the cleaner ma be operated rom the inside of the win ow to remove e osits from the outer side of the pane wit out the necessity of opening the window.

The crank or actuating device 18 is mounted for oscillation or rotation u on a bracket 14. This bracket 14 may be 0 any suitable form, but as shown comprises a board or plate tiltabl mounted, as indicated at 15, upon the Si] or some other suitable part of the window frame, the construction 'being such that the crank or actuating device may be swung towardand from the sash for engagement with oi disenga ement from the rock shaft, and may also e tilted from a normally horizontal operative position to a vertical or inoperative position, in order to allow the sash to be opened and closed with out interference therefrom. Provision is thus made for moving the actuatin device into and out of engagement with tie rock shaft of the cleaner, and for disposing said actua ing device so that it will not interfere with the ordinary opening and closing movements of the window sash.

It will be evident from the foregoing descriptiofi. that my invention provides a 'hich is adapted for use upon window sasl'ics of various kinds, and particularl upon the window sashes of moving veh1cles,.or the Wind shields of automobiles, whereby the outer surface of the glass may be wiped clear of any frost, rain water or other moisture or foreign substances accumulating thereon, thus allowing the operator to keep the pane clean for a clear vision.

Also it will be seen that by the construction described the cleaner may be operated from the interior of the vehicle in a ready and convenient manner and while the sash is in closed position.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim:

1. In a cleaner for the glass panes of window sashes and the like, the combination of a rock shaft adapted to be mounted upon the window sash, said shaft having a socket at the inner end thereof, an arm carried by the other end of the shaft for movement therelB across the window pane, a wiper carric by said arm, a support hinged to the window frame, and an actuating device adapted for detachable engagement with the socket in the shaft, said device being mounted upon said support so as to be swun into and out of engagement with the rocE shaft.

2. In a cleaner for the glass panes of window sashes and the like, the combination of a rock shaft adapted to be mounted upon the window sash, an arm carried by said shaft and for movement across the surface of the window pane, a wiper carried by said arm, an actuating device adapted for detachable engagement with the rock shaft, and a support for said device adapted to be mounted upon the window frame and movable in opposite directions for shifting said device into and out of engagement with the shaft.

in testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM R. KUEHNEL. 

